By Chris G
September 13 2002

Its off to the West Country on Sunday for the Gold Black n Green for the Zurich Premiership clash with Bristol at the Memorial Ground, 3:00 kick off. Will Bristol be able to stop the Northampton juggernaut? Read on........

The Saints head for the West Country on Sunday to play Peter Thorburns Bristol at a lush green grassed Memorial Ground.
A win last Saturday over Newcastle where despite not firing on all cylinders the Saints were in command in both the tight and the loose, will however have built confidence and the team will be going all out for a full five pointer this weekend with Wayne Smiths words no doubt still ringing in their ears..

Bristol however may be a different proposition to Newcastle who by Rob Andrews own admission were overawed by Franklins Gardens and the Saints pack. Despite being blown away by Buck Shelfords new look Sarries on the opening weekend of the season they almost came away with a result at fancied High Wycombe Wasps last week with the boot of Contepomi to the fore again. Just like against Newcastles Jonny Wilkinson the Saints will have to limit those penalties which ultimately lost them the opening game at Sale where Charlie Hodgson had a field day..

TEAM NEWS

Coach Smudger opts to start with the same side that faced the Falcons which means another week starting at centre for wing Ben Cohen. New signing Mark 'Deso' Connors keeps his place in the second row alongside Steve Williams, a pairing i'm sure that will in no way be intimidated by a certain Mr Archers serial antics against the Saints. On the skipper rotation its Budge Pountneys turn to captain the side.

Saints: (caps denotes international)

15 NICK BEAL
14 JON SLEIGHTHOLME
13 BEN COHEN
12 JOHN LESLIE
11 ORIOL RIPOL
10 PAUL GRAYSON
9 MATT DAWSON
1 TOM SMITH
2 STEVE THOMPSON
3 MATT STEWART
4 MARK CONNORS
5 STEVE WILLIAMS
6 ANDREW BLOWERS
7 BUDGE POUNTNEY
8 Grant Seely

Replacements from:
Dan Richmond,
Chris Budgen,
Jon Phillips,
Rob Hunter,
Mark Soden,
Johnny Howard,
James Brooks,
Mark Tucker,
PETER JORGENSEN

At the time of writing there was no team news from the Bristol camp. Watch the Message Board for updates over the next 48 hours
If you're not going to the game.....

Don't forget the club in conjunction with the BBC are supplying live commentary to ALL Saints Zurich games this season on the net and the COYSDC chatroom will be open for business during the game to discuss whats happening at the Morial ground.

Check out the link below for commentaries.....

Saints Games Live On The Net
The BBC Link
COYSDC Chatroom

LAST SEASON

A two to one victory for Bristol in the three games last season. A no quarter given or asked game in November at the Gardens saw Bristol sneak the win 20-23 (see the 'History' links below). In the return leg, which had earlier been called off because of a frozen pitch, the Saints returned on a May evening to run out the easy 37-27. The teams met finaly on the sun kissed beach of Bristol on the first day of June in the Zurich Championship semi final which turned out to be Saints last game of the campaign. This is how we saw it.

SAINTS SHINE BUT ARE SUNK IN POMIS BEACH

Well boys and girls that’s it for another season. Instead of another jolly jaunt to Twickers next week its the sun kissed beaches of the Maldives or Camber Sands instead for all those Gold, Black n Green inclined after the defeat at Bristols very own sun kissed inland beach on Saturday.


It was maybe a game too far for the Saints as the patchwork Jimmies army travelled to Bristol in the hope of a quick return to HQ but at the end of the day the home side, who had a Heineken Cup place in sight just had the edge at the death of an entertaining game dominated by one man, Felipe Contepomi.

The Saints, playing in shorts that Dale Winton would blush at, started well with Larry having the better of early penalty exchanges with Contepomi putting Northampton ahead at 6-3. But then the Argentine upped a gear and after fine work by England youngster Christophers Contepomi hopped and skipped through a gap to run to an empty seat (one of many) in row eight of the stand behind the goal. Unfortunately for Saints he popped the ball down in the try area enroute.

The conversion gave Bristol a 10-5 lead but the Saints almost made amends straight away. Craig Moir with the tryline in site hesitated and was bundled into touch and the home side breathed again. The Saints though had the bit between their teeth and after the two flyhalves exchanged further penalties the Saints finally got their just rewards.

A short break from midfield was taken on by front row England tourists Steve Thompson and Robbie Morris. 'Wally' and 'Roboprop' caused mayhem in a Bristol pack that was visibly wilting. As the young dynamic duo were held up short the Saints player of the year Andy Blowers, after a quick interchange in the backs, took the play on over the Bristol line for the score and the lead returning to the visitors yet again.

In the dying moments of the half Contepomi hit a further long range pen to again switch the lead one more time and send the home side in 16-14 at the break. It was still all there to play for.

Indeed after the break it was Bristol who surged into a commanding lead.
After the initial break from David Rees, it was that man Contepomi again who skipped through the Saints defence to go over for the score celebrated in true Buddhist style in the end zone. OMMMMM!

The Saints though rallied and hit back upfront and Bristol again had problems holding back the Gold Black and Green tide and but for a cruncher of a tackle on Nick Beal by yes that Argentine man again, the visitors could have closed the gap and start to edge away but the home defence held firm

In the end though it was one Saint too many for the Bristol defenders and McCarthy hauled back Craig Moir well after the ball had gone. Referee Chris White asked Mr McCarthy to sit the game out a while as the Saints upped another gear and stormed back into the lead with tries in quick succession from Grant Seely and a second from the, yet again, outstanding Hurricane Blowers.

At 24-23 up the Saints had Twickenham in their sight but the home side realised the predicament they were in. A matter of one point stood between their season being an unexpected success or another abject mundane disappointment.

To their eternal credit Bristol rallied and hit back with three late penalties, punctuated by Long John Leslie being dispatched to the bin and a totally legal Rees try disallowed in the closing minutes to seal the game, a trip to HQ and a Heineken place.

In truth the home side just about deserved it but all credit to the Saints for fighting every inch of the way in a game many pundits gave them little chance in. Indeed a couple of missed chances early on down the flank could have put a total different reflection on the game. The spirit though had all the hallmarks of how far the club has come since the arrival of Wayne Smith in December.

HISTORY

The clubs first met in the 1900-01 season with a 17-8 win for the Saints. Bristol won their first game of the series in the 1920-21 season with a 25-3 victory at home.
The teams over a hundred times with honours fairly even although in recent times it has been the Saints who have held sway (see 'Stats' below)
This week we have been looking back in the Saints v Bristol archive, check out the links below.....

Saints v Bristol 2001

Saints v Bristol 2000

Saints v Bristol 1998

THE STATS

Results Summary in the Premiership

Played 18
Bristol Won 7 38.9%
Saints Won 11 61.1%
Drawn 0 0%
Biggest Win for Bristol 46 - 16 16 Apr 2001
Biggest Win for N Saints 35 - 12 14 Mar 1998
Bristol top try scorer vs Saints Paul Hull 3 tries
Bristoltop points scorer vs NSaints Felipe Contepomi 63 points
Saints top try scorer vs Bristol Harvey Thorneycroft 4 tries
Saints top points scorer vs Bristol Paul Grayson 140 points

Last Meetings

01 Jun 2002 Saints vs Bristol 24 - 32 Memorial
08 May 2002 Saints vs Bristol 37 - 27 Memorial
25 Nov 2001 Saints vs Bristol 20 - 23 Franklin's Gardens
16 Apr 2001 Saints vs Bristol 16 - 46 Memorial
25 Nov 2000 Saints vs Bristol 24 - 6 Franklin's Gardens
12 Feb 2000 Saints vs Bristol 19 - 23 Franklin's Gardens
05 Nov 1999 Saints vs Bristol 29 - 19 Memorial
14 Mar 1998 Saints vs Bristol 35 - 12 Franklin's Gardens
26 Oct 1997 Saints vs Bristol 15 - 22 Memorial
05 Apr 1997 Saints vs Bristol 11 - 20 Memorial